File follower



Feb. 21, 1928.

P. VIGNOS FILE FOLLOWER Filed Feb. 26, 1927 atroz/nut Patented Feb. 2l, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL VIGNOS, 0F CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 THE BERGER IIANUFACTURING GOI- PANY, 0F CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO. l

FILE FOLLOWEB.

Application led February 28, 1987. Serial 80.171388.

This invention relates to a novel file follower, such as is commonly employed 1n metal filing cabinet drawers, and 1n similar structures, to compress and hold inan upright position, letters, folders, etc.

One of the objects of the invention is to provideI a file follower, which may be el'ectively locked or held against longitudinal movement or displacement in a drawer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a file follower, having a novel locking mechanism, which may be readily released to permit longitudinal adjustment of the follower to any desired position.y p

These and other attendant objects of the invention will become more readily apparent in the course 0f the following description of the invention, taken in connection with the drawings andthe scope of protection contemplated will be defined by the appended c alms. l

Vals

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a portion of a filing cabinet drawer from the rear thereof, showing the novel file follower therein;

Figure 2 is a detail view of the locking mechanism, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows A--A in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the locklng mechanism, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows B-B in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the follower cam.

In Fig. 1, 1 represents a filing cabinet drawer, comprising a bottom 2, sides 3 and 4, frontend 5, and, arear end (not shown).

, The sides 3' and .4 have longitudinal guideways 6 therein, which are so formed as to provide av lower bearing or sup orting surface 7 and a cam-contacting sur ace 8, these surfaces being parallel to each other and the surface 8 being disposed directly above the surface 7.

The file follower consists' of a follower board 9, and follower clips 10 secured thereto b any suitable means, as for example by the olts ll'and nuts12. The clips 10 have outwardly extending portions 13 at their lower ends, terminatin in depending supporting .arms 14, which are preferably integral `with the clips and are disposed at right angles to the plane of the follower board. l

The clips 10 have bearing portions 15 formed therein, which are adapted to sul);- port the crank arms 16 of a follower lever 1 The lever is ordinaril formed of round stock, and the ends of t e crank arms 16 are flattened to provide tenons 18, which are adapted to enter the mortised follower cams 19. Thefmortise 20 in the follower cam is offset from the center of the cam, so that the cam may in one position be in engagement with the guideway surface 8, and in another position, out of contact with said surface.

When the lever is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the follower cams are in their uppermost position and in contact with the surface'8, and the movement which results in bringing the cams to this position, forces the supporting arms 14 downward into contact wit the bearing surface 7. As the result of the contact of the cams with the contacting surfaces 8 and the arms with the su porting surfaces 7, the follower board 9 is eectively secured in locked position.

In order to release the follower board, to permit its longitudinal adjustment, the lever 17 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow C in Fig. 3. This Inovementimultaneously causes the follower cams to move in the same direction, and to occupy a lower position clear of the surfaces 8. The follower board may then be moved forwardly or rearwardly to any desired position in the drawer, and again locked by moving the lever towards the follower board, i. e., in a direc tion opposite to that indicated by the arrow C.

The follower cam is so designed that its vertical diameter (considered when the cam is in its uppermost position, as in Figs. 2 and 3) is slightly more than its horizontal diameter, i, e., it is slightly elliptical in shape. This form of design provides a multiplicity of contactfpoints, a, a?, a2, a, along the upper surface o the cam, equidistant from the point where the crank arm enters the cam, and any of these points may be moved into contact with the surface 8. If the cam were a true circle, only one contact point a2, would be provided, and when this oint becomes worn through continued use, t e cam would cease, to function properly. By providing a multiplicity of contact points in the manner described, a number of wearing points are provided, and the life of the cam is accordingly prolonged.

I claim- 1. In a filing cabinet construction, a drawer having longitudinally extending guideways in its sides, each of said guideways having a supporting and a contacting surface, disposed a ove the supporting surface; and a file follower provided with a locking mechanism having means adapted to simultaneously contact both the supportin and contacting' surfaces for the purpose o preventing longitudinal movement of the follower.

2. In aV filing cabinet construction, a drawer having longitudinally extending guideways in .its sides, each of which has a supporting surface and a cam-contacting surface, disposed above the supporting surface, and a file follower provided with supporting arms and cams, said arms and cams being adapted to simultaneously and respectively contact the supporting and cam-contacting surfaces, for the purpose of holding the follower in adjusted position, and to prevent longitudinal displacement thereof.

3. In a filing cabinet construction, a drawer having longitudinally extending guideways in its sides, each of said guideways having a supporting and a contacting surface, disposed above the supporting surface; and a file follower provided with clips having portions thereof resting on'the supporting surfaces, and a lever supported by the clips, said lever having a cam at each extremity thereof, and each of said cams being adapted to be forced into directcontact with a contacting surface of the guideways when the lever is canted.

4. In a filing cabinet construction, a drawer having longitudinally extending guideways in its sides, each of said guideways having a supporting and a contacting surface, disposed above the supporting surface and a le follower provided with clips having portions thereof resting on the supporting surfaces, and a lever supported by the clips, said lever having a cam at each extremity thereof disposed at right an les thereto, and each of said cams being a apted to be forced into direct contact with a contacting surface of the guideways when the lever is canted.

5. In .a filing cabinet construction a drawer having longitudinall extending guideways in its sides, each o said guideways having a supportinfr and a contacting surface, disposed above the supporting surface; and a file follower provided with clips having portions thereof resting on the supporting surfaces, and a lever supported by the clips, said lever having a circular disklike cam at each extremity thereof, and each of said cams being adapted to be forced into direct contact with a contacting surface of the guideways when the lever is canted.

6. In a filing cabinet construction, a drawer having longitudinally extending guideways in its sides, each of said guideways having a supporting and a contacting surface, disposed above the supporting surface; and a file follower provided with clips having portions thereof resting on the supporting surfaces, and a lever supported by the clips, said lever having a circular disklike cam at each extremity thereof disposed at right angles thereto, and each of said cams bein adapted to be forced into direct contact wlth a contacting surface of the 4 guideways when the lever is canted.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

` PAUL VIGNOS. 

